Ball transfer deck and pin stop thereof

Abstract

A ball transfer deck facilitates movement of heavy loads across the deck over an array of ball transfer units while reducing attendant operating noise. An annular elastomeric sleeve isolates the upper flange of each individual ball transfer unit from direct contact with the deck, thereby reducing noise generated by the contact between the ball transfer unit and deck. An associated pin stop mechanism is also installed in the ball transfer deck and can be selectively engaged to prevent the movement of a particular load across the deck. To decrease the probability of damage to the deck and increase the stability and strength of the pin stop mechanism, the preferred pin stop mechanism includes a wide upper flange that allows the pin stop mechanism to be easily attached to an upper surface to the deck. Moreover, in an effort to further increase strength and stability, the pin stop mechanism may also be equipped with a second lower flange that is attached to the lower surface of the deck in alignment with the upper flange to allow for attachment of the upper and lower flanges by common fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ball transfer deck having pin stops for selectively preventing movement of a load across the deck comprising: a substantially horizontal, load-bearing deck defining a surface and a multiplicity of regularly spaced circular first openings and a lesser number of spaced second openings;   a plurality of cylindrically-shaped housings positioned in said first openings, each of said housings having a concavity adapted to receive a plurality of roller bearings about a surface defining said concavity;   load-bearing roller balls positioned for universal rotation within said housings and defining a horizontal load-bearing plane;   annular elastomeric sleeves positioned about said housings between said housings and said deck surface, thereby isolating said housings from direct contact with said deck surface and minimizing vibration and reducing noise as loads are moved over said roller balls; and   pin stop mechanisms with pin housings positioned within said second openings, said pin stop mechanisms having pins movable with respect to the horizontal plane between a first position in which the pins project above the horizontal plane to prevent movement of a load through said pin stop mechanisms and a second position in which said pins are retracted below the horizontal plane allowing movement of a load over said pin stop mechanisms.   
     
     
       2. The deck of claim 1 in which each of said pin stop mechanisms has a first flange plate, said first flange plate projecting horizontally out over and secured to a top surface of said load-bearing deck. 
     
     
       3. The deck of claim 2 in which each of said pin stop mechanisms has a second flange plate, said second flange plate projecting horizontally out below and secured to a bottom surface of said load-bearing deck, said first and second flange plates cooperating to minimize movement of said pin housings due to impacts of loads against said pins when in said first position. 
     
     
       4. The deck of claim 3 in which each of said pin stop housings has a vertically disposed channel with an open top end and a bottom end, each channel enclosing a respective one of said movable pins, each of said pins being biased into said first position. 
     
     
       5. The deck of claim 4 in which each of said pin stop housings has a first sleeve defining said channel, said first sleeve defining a locking groove and each of said pins having a locking member projecting therefrom into said groove, said groove configured to lock said pin in said second position when said pin is depressed downwardly and rotated in a predetermined direction. 
     
     
       6. The deck of claim 5 in which a spring is positioned in each of said channels between said pin and said bottom end of the channel, thereby biasing said pin upward into said first position. 
     
     
       7. The deck of claim 6 in which each of said bottom ends defines a plurality of openings through which water and other contaminants may pass out of said pin housings. 
     
     
       8. The deck of claim 7 in which each of said pin mechanisms includes an annular second sleeve open at top and bottom ends thereof, said first flange plate being secured to said first sleeve about said top end opening thereof and said second flange plate being secured to said second sleeve about the top end opening thereof, said second sleeve having an internal diameter greater than said first sleeve and being positioned about said first sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The deck of claim 8 in which each of said first and second flange plates define a plurality of openings for receiving fasteners, said openings of said first and second flange plates being in registry so that said plates are secured to said deck by common fasteners. 
     
     
       10. In a ball transfer deck having a multiplicity of spaced ball transfer units secured to a load-bearing deck and having associated spherical rollers collectively defining a substantially horizontal load-bearing surface, and a plurality of pin stop mechanisms, each having a pin movable between a first position in which a distal end of said pin projects above the load-bearing surface and a second position in which the distal end of said pin is retracted below the load-bearing surface, an improved pin stop mechanism having a first flange plate and a second flange plate, said first flange plate projecting horizontally out over and secured to a top surface of said load-bearing deck, and said second flange plate projecting horizontally out below and secured to a bottom surface of said load-bearing deck, thereby minimizing movement of said pin stop mechanism due to impacts of loads against said pin when in said first position.   
     
     
       11. The improved stop pin mechanism of claim 10 including vertically disposed first and second sleeves, said first sleeve having an open top end, a substantially closed bottom end, and housing said pin,   said first flange plate being secured to said first sleeve about said top end, said second sleeve being open at a top end thereof and having an internal diameter greater than said first sleeve, said second flange plate being secured to said second sleeve about the top end thereof, and   said first sleeve being partially positioned within said second sleeve.   
     
     
       12. The improved pin stop mechanism of claim 11 including a biasing spring positioned within said first sleeve and abutting said enclosed bottom end thereof and said pin, thereby biasing said pin into said first position. 
     
     
       13. The improved pin stop mechanism of claim 12 in which said first sleeve defines a groove and said pin has a finger projecting through said groove, said groove being configured to retain said finger in a fixed position when said pin is depressed downward against said spring and rotated in a predetermined direction thereby maintaining said pin in said second position. 
     
     
       14. A pin stop for use in ball deck transfer deck for selectively preventing movement of a load across the ball deck transfer deck comprising: a first sleeve having an open top end and a substantially closed bottom end;   a first flange plate member secured to said first sleeve about the top end thereof;   a movable pin biasly mounted within said first sleeve for movement between an extended position and a retracted position;   a second sleeve having an open top end and bottom end thereof and having an internal diameter larger than an outer diameter of said first sleeve, and second sleeve adapted to receive at least a portion of said first sleeve.   
     
     
       15. The pin stop of claim 14 in which said first sleeve defines a groove and said pin has a finger that projects through said groove, said groove configured to lock said finger into a stationary position and said pin in said retracted position when said pin is depressed into said first sleeve and rotated in a predetermined direction.